If only Disney Cruise Line would....

[Moley]

I'm a big believer in DCL after our indescribably good cruise this last May. However, there's always room for something extra. What is your fondest wish for Disney Cruise Line to add?

I would like to see them add an extra day at Castaway Cay on the 7 day cruises.

Your wish? :cool:

[WDWDen]

Hmmmmmm? :confused2: Let me think here! Well, I like days at sea, SO, I vote for 2 days at CC also and spend the rest of the days just sailing :lol: Actually, I would love to do a transatlantic sailing someday. Rough waters, high winds and DEEEP waters!! :lol: Yep, that sounds cool to me :lol:

I would also like to them build a bigger ship, with an indoor atrium, like RC and add the rock climbing wall too :lol: Of course a casino wouldnt hurt either ;-)

[Snickerdoodlesmommy]

That would have to be a mighty big boat Den! Too bad they would never put a casino on board as that would be nice.
And maybe a few more shops, more BINGO, movie theatre with stadium seating, an extra day at Castaway, deeper discounts. Buy a cruise get a free cruise. Is all this too much to ask for? ;)

[LeiasMom]

I wish they would let us book things like Palo in advance instead of doing the reservation scramble.

I wish they wouldn't "sell" smoothies to the kids at dinner. This is a kid boat. Come on, either give them away or don't try to push them.

I wish they would arrange for some wheelchair accessible excursions.

I have some unrealistic wishes (like free spa services), but I'm sticking to reality.

Amy

[Moley]

Your suggestions are valid and doable, Amy. I think you should send them off to DCL.

Palo reservations can be secured ahead of time, but at a price. Concierge class, of course, can do this. The other option is a package called Romantic Escape at Sea, available on 7 day cruises. The price for this is now up to 329 for 2005. It includes the Palo dinner and a couples massage. Both can be booked as soon as the package is paid for. The head dining coordinator for DCL is named Debbie. She is the one to contact. She is very nice, so nice that she lets you also book a Palo brunch reservation at the same time. The brunch is at additional cost, but the perk to book it ahead of time is priceless.

The couples massage can only be an onboard one. If you want such a massage on Castaway Cay, you must still brave the ressies rush at boarding.

[Snickerdoodlesmommy]

They charge extra for something as cheap as a smoothie??? I think that alone is a major turnoff, with all the money these cruises cost in the first place. :cry:

[Moley]

Snickers, that is standard across all the cruise industry. Beverages outside of iced tea and filtered water are extra cost. At least Disney Cruise Line has gone to allowing sodas to be added to the freebie list, outside of clubs and bars. In the restaurants, sodas have always been complimentary. Smoothies have never been. Neither is soda free for room service.

Most other cruise lines charge for sodas, smoothies and drinks for every occasion, even sitdown meals.

[LeiasMom]

That's true. Although I do think that nonalcoholic beverages should be complimentary, I can live with the fact that some of them cost. I've done Royal Caribbean and Carnival, and I'm used to paying for drinks. However, I don't like how much they pushed the smoothies on the kids. I don't mind buying Leia a drink or two, but it seems wrong for them to start asking the kids if they want a smoothie when the kids don't know that it costs extra. That's the part that bothers me.

Amy

[Moley]

I very much agree with that, Amy. The extra cost is one thing, but pushing it on kids who will be tempted is quite another.

[Robin]

I think pushing a child to order something that cost extra puts the parents in a ackward position. It's amazing how fast those 'extras' add up when you're charging everthing to your room.

I've done a few cruises in the past, and coffee, tea and water were the only free beverages, beyond the occassional 'happy hour' that Carnival had.

[Tagrel]

Have an ice machine and ice bucket available for guest access. I hated tracking down and bothering our room steward when we needed some ice! :oops:

Having an iron in the room would be nice. With all the shirts, dresses, pants, etc crushed in the luggage, an iron is NEEDED! :)

An area of the Navigator that told you WHICH characters would be WHERE and WHEN. Its just easier when its written down and you can plan a bit.

Bigger Pools. There may be three, but they are so tiny!

And we would like a casino too. The ship has OTHER adult only areas? Why not a casino?

Amy - As to the smoothies problem - was it your server or assistant server who kept pushing smoothies? Ours never did this, (although they mentioned them in passing once or twice). I'd pull them aside and make it clear that all smoothie costs would be taken from their end of trip tip envelope. ;) I'll bet they'd stop pushing them then!! :rofl:

[Sheryl]

Oh my gosh, keep them coming here please. It's beginning to open my eyes. Never cruised, but need to learn the ins and outs before August 2005.

Are you charged for soda with your meal?

No Iron, Oh man, I'm in trouble. So should I buy a travel iron?

Limit on luggage? How many per person, and does size matter? Get your mind out of the gutter Den!

I've only packed suits in a suit bag for Ter many years ago. How do you all pack the good clothes? Fold them and pack them? What about sports coats and suits for the boys, are they needed everynight for dinner?

Please help Teach me!!!

:mickeyWalk: Sheryl :minnie:

[Moley]

Oh my gosh, keep them coming here please. It's beginning to open my eyes. Never cruised, but need to learn the ins and outs before August 2005.

Are you charged for soda with your meal?

No Iron, Oh man, I'm in trouble. So should I buy a travel iron?

Limit on luggage? How many per person, and does size matter? Get your mind out of the gutter Den!

I've only packed suits in a suit bag for Ter many years ago. How do you all pack the good clothes? Fold them and pack them? What about sports coats and suits for the boys, are they needed everynight for dinner?

Please help Teach me!!!

:mickeyWalk: Sheryl :minnie:

With your meals, you are not charged for sodas, but there is a charge for smoothies or alcohol or specialty drinks like a non-alcoholic Drink of the Day.

Irons are prohibited because of fire regulations. The worst hazard at sea is fire. US Coast Guard is so strict, they will no longer allow flambe at the guest table. We took a steamer, but didn't use it. The pressing cost per garment is not bad. Also people dress wrinkled so everyone is in the same boat, pun intended. :mrgreen:

You are limited to two bags per person. They can both be large.

I packed our formal wear in drycleaner bags. I sent my dress out for pressing but Bob's dress slacks didn't need to be. Bob wore his suit jacket on the plane and as we boarded so he didn't have to pack it.

You only need dress clothes for two nights, formal and semi-formal. There is also a dress code for Palo's and one for Lumiere's, but the only encouraged dress code is no jeans or shorts at the evening meals in the rotation restaurants. On Tropicali night, shorts were fine.

[WDWDen]

I would also like to see a bigger lobby area of the ship. I know they need the deck space, but Disney's lobby area is just small and kinda boring. I REALLLLLLY don't like that blown glass chandelear either. It just looks cheap and guady to me. I would like to be 'wowed' when I walk onto the ship.

[Sheryl]

Thank you Moley!

[Tagrel]

I would also like to see a bigger lobby area of the ship. I know they need the deck space, but Disney's lobby area is just small and kinda boring. I REALLLLLLY don't like that blown glass chandelear either. It just looks cheap and guady to me. I would like to be 'wowed' when I walk onto the ship.

Funny that you should say this Dennis, because Kristen felt the same way. After sailing on RCCL she just was not impressed with the Disney ship when boarding. While beautiful, it just doesn't have the WOW factor of the other ships we have sailed on. And neither of us care for that chandelier at all. Then we walked into our HUGE (by comparison) cabin and all was forgiven! ;)

[Shirley]

We take extra hangers there is never enough in the closet. downey wrinkle releaser worked for us. I also agree about the smoothies. They ask the kids if they would like one without first telling the parents that there will be an extra charge. The kid
says yes then the assitant server looks at the parents to see if it is ok. :(

[LeiasMom]

Amy - As to the smoothies problem - was it your server or assistant server who kept pushing smoothies? Ours never did this, (although they mentioned them in passing once or twice). I'd pull them aside and make it clear that all smoothie costs would be taken from their end of trip tip envelope. ;) I'll bet they'd stop pushing them then!! :rofl:

It was the server. She was great overall, and I am very fortunate to have a child who understands when I tell her that something costs money. However, I saw a few parents with panic in their eyes when they saw the cost.

Overall, though, I don't think you can beat the Disney cruise. The servers really go above and beyond to make the evening great for the kids. We got over the smoothie thing very quickly.

Amy